LEAVING THE EYELID TO ITS OWN DEVICES

As oculoplastic surgery is preferred for direct closure of lid defects . spontaneous wound healing after excision of lid tumors is not common . Thus, spontaneous reformation of lid defects as an alternative treat ment to surgical procedures was investigated. In 12 patients with a cl inical diagnosis of basal-cell carcinoma. lid tumors were removed surg ically by full-thickness excision in 1 group (n = 6) or cutaneous exci sion only in the other group (n = 6). The mean follow-up period was 5 months in the first group and 9 months in the second group. Cosmetic a nd functional results were satisfactory in all patients. The scar tiss ue simulated the former tarsus. The wounds were completely covered by a normal-appearing epithelium. Spontaneous wound healing may lead to c onsiderable stiffness bf the lower lid and to an acceptable reformatio n of the lid margin. There was no elevation Of the lid margin and. rem arkably. no secondary surgery due to an entropion or an ectropion was necessary.